How To Care For A Barbados Cherry Tree

How To Care For A Barbados Cherry Tree

Barbados cherry can be propagated from cuttings and air layering. However, growing from air layering is not feasible. If you can get a plant from a nursery, nothing like it! 

In this article, Foreignconnect.net tries to answer the by publishing How to Care For A Barbados Cherry Tree

Below is How to Care For A Barbados Cherry Tree

The Barbados cherry produces beautiful pink and yellow blossoms before maturing into tasty fruit. Glossy, red fruits are about 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter. They are juicy and sweet and occasionally tart. The main fruiting season is spring but extends off and on all year.

Barbados cherry is native to South America, southern Mexico, the Caribbean, Brazil, and Central America. It is also known as Wild Crapemyrtle, Manzanita, and Acerola. It’s a great source of natural vitamin C used in many vitamin tablets.

Don’t be surprised to see caterpillars flocking to your plant. Barbados cherry is a host plant for the caterpillars of several butterflies, including the White-Patched Skipper (Chiomara asychis), Florida Duskywing (Ephyriades brunneus), and Brown-Banded Skipper (Timochares ruptifasciatus).

Scientific name: Malpighia emarginata (formerly known as Malpighia glabra)

GROWING BARBADOS CHERRIES

  • Average mature height: 20 to 30 feet in areas that do not freeze.
  • Planting: Plant in sandy to rich, well-drained soil in full to part sun.
  • Hardiness: Mature trees can survive temperatures down to 28 degrees Fahrenheit for brief periods. If the tree freezes, it will often return from the roots.
  • Zones: 9b-11

Pests and diseases

The most serious disease of Barbados cherry is a root-knot nematode. It can also be attacked by leaf spots, brown rot, and powdery mildew. Pests that might attack it are aphids, scales, borers, and whiteflies.

Harvesting and Storing

  • Pick the cherries when they turn to a bright shade of red from yellow.
  • During the fruiting season, the growth will be plenty. Harvest timely to save them from falling off the tree.
  • The cherries can be kept for 3-4 days.